Positioning system and method for arc welding consumables

Abstract

A nozzle assembly for a welding torch, a welding torch that includes said nozzle assembly, and a method of using the welding torch is provided. The nozzle assembly generally comprises an insulator having a plurality of grooves around an outer periphery, a plurality of sealing members disposed within the grooves of the insulator; and a nozzle body slip-fit around the insulator, such that at least one of the insulator and the nozzle body define position indicia.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A nozzle assembly comprising:
 an insulator surrounding a nozzle insert, the insulator having a plurality of grooves around an outer periphery; 
 a plurality of sealing members disposed within the grooves of the insulator; and 
 a nozzle body slip-fit around the insulator: 
 wherein at least one of the insulator and the nozzle body define a visual position indicia configured to visually indicate to a user of the nozzle assembly a relative positioning of the nozzle body with respect to the insulator based upon an intended application. 
 
     
     
       2. The nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulator has a scale along its outer periphery as the position indicia. 
     
     
       3. The nozzle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulator defines a plurality of position rings disposed along its outer periphery as the scale. 
     
     
       4. The nozzle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the nozzle body defines at least one window or aperture through which the scale can be viewed as the position indicia. 
     
     
       5. The nozzle assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of position rings comprises a first ring, a second ring, and a third ring, the first ring being different from the second and third rings, and the second ring being different from the third ring. 
     
     
       6. The nozzle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the nozzle insert includes a proximal end, a distal end, a central bore extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, and an internal gas diverter that defines a seating surface toward the proximal end of the nozzle insert. 
     
     
       7. The nozzle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the internal gas diverter defines a profiled diverter orifice that extends distally from the central bore. 
     
     
       8. The nozzle assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a contact tip coupled to a conductor tube, the contact tip being coaxially disposed within the nozzle assembly when the nozzle assembly is coupled to the conductor tube. 
 
     
     
       9. The nozzle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the contact tip includes a body that defines an internal cavity extending from a proximal end coupled to the conductor tube to a distal end, and a plurality of apertures radially disposed around the body and in fluid communication with the internal cavity. 
     
     
       10. The nozzle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein, when the nozzle assembly is coupled to the conductor tube, the contact tip engages the seating surface of the nozzle insert and the profiled diverter orifice extends around the plurality of apertures of the contact tip. 
     
     
       11. The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the position indicia further allows a user of the nozzle assembly to position a distal opening of the nozzle body relative to the distal end of the contact tip. 
     
     
       12. The nozzle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein aligning the nozzle body with the first ring positions the distal opening of the of the nozzle body a first nozzle distance from the distal end of the contact tip disposed within the nozzle body. 
     
     
       13. The nozzle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein aligning the nozzle body with the second ring positions the distal opening of the of the nozzle body a second nozzle distance from the distal end of the contact tip disposed within the nozzle body, the second nozzle distance being smaller than the first nozzle distance. 
     
     
       14. The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein aligning the nozzle body with the third ring positions the distal opening of the of the nozzle body a third nozzle distance from the distal end of the contact tip, where the distal end of the contact tip protrudes from the distal opening of the nozzle body. 
     
     
       15. The nozzle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle body further comprises:
 a nose portion that narrows inwardly and is disposed proximate the distal opening of the nozzle assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. The nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly is attached to a conductor tube that includes position indicia. 
     
     
       17. The nozzle assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the nozzle body includes a proximal end extension that allows alignment of the nozzle body with the position indicia on the conductor tube in order to adjust the nozzle body so that it is in a desired positional relationship with a contact tip. 
     
     
       18. The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle body further comprises a distal end face and an exterior surface defining an index marking for measuring a trim distance for a welding liner; wherein the distal end face abuts a portion of a conductor tube, and the welding liner extends distally from the portion of the conductor tube, for the measuring of the welding liner to extend into a contact tip. 
     
     
       19. The nozzle assembly of  claim 18 , wherein a length between a distal end face of the conductor tube and the index marking of the nozzle body defines the trim distance. 
     
     
       20. The nozzle assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the nozzle body defines a tapered end portion. 
     
     
       21. The nozzle assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the nozzle body defines the trim distance measured along the tapered end portion. 
     
     
       22. The nozzle assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the nozzle body defines the trim distance is measured perpendicular to the distal end face.